We have just launched a short 6 minute video tutorial for AnalysIR introducing the use of the Checksum Calculator feature in AnalysIR, which is available via YouTube. The tutorial covers the steps to verify the position and type of checksums that are typically found in Air Conditioner infrared signals. The types of checksums covered include:

In Part 1 of this series, we demonstrated how to send signals using soft or Simple Infrared PWM on Arduino. In our Part 2 post we looked at sending RAW IR signals – specifically a RAW NEC signal and a longer RAW Mitsubishi Air Conditioner signal using soft PWM. We have since improved the PWM method shown in Part 1Part 2to provide better performance and improve portability. In this Part 3, we will take the signals from Part 2 and show how to send them using their binary (or Hex) representation, which can save lots of SRAM in many projects, particularly when dealing with longer AC signals.

Original NEC 32-bit and Mitsubishi 88-bit Signals captured using AnalysIR

The fifth member of our MakeIR series of devices & kits is the A.IRShield Nano. This shield works out of the box with AnalysIR and is essentially plug & play , with additional prototyping options. The shield comes attached to an Arduino nano compatible device (clone). Although designed specifically for AnalysIR, users can also upload IRremote, IRLib or any Arduino sketches that run on the Nano. A.IR shield is built with only the highest quality IR components available and boasts dual Infrared emitters with configurable IR Power.

Recently, two of our users in France (Vincent & Mathieu) collaborated to reverse engineer the Panasonic AC Infrared protocol, one of the more challenging AC Infrared protocols using AnalysIR. Not only did they identify the codes & checksum but also provided some impressive documentation and full source code to help others. Detailed information is available via GitHub which is linked below. This 216 data bit Panasonic AC Infrared protocol is composed of two consecutive frames. The first frame remains constant for every command sent to the AC unit. In common with most AC units the complete configuration is sent with every IR signal (temperature, fan, swing etc…). AnalysIR was used to record and turn the signal into HEX/Binary format from which the reverse engineering of the individual fields was tackled.

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The third member of our MakeIR series of devices & kits will be RepeatIR. This infrared repeater module boasts several unique features not readility available to date and is built with only the highest quality IR components available.

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The second member of our MakeIR series of devices & kits will be SendIR. This infrared emitter module boasts several unique features not readility available to date and is built with only the highest quality IR components available.

The first new member of our MakeIR series of devices & kits will be LearnIR. This infrared learner packs lots of functionality for such a small device, several IR innovations and is built with only the highest quality IR components available.

Our recent post about the silver bullet IR receiver proved very popular and we promised that we would follow-up with another variant of the poor maker’s Infrared receiver. This time we are using an IR Led (emitter), 2 resistors and any standard Arduino. You will also need to download the Arduino code provided below, compile and upload it. One of the most common problems encountered when trying to decode IR signals is that makers don’t always have the appropriate IR receiver for the job in hand or have to wait for one to be delivered by mail. Here we present an affordable method to allow you to use any IR emitter (LED) as a receiver and as a bonus we are publishing the Arduino code to make it all work.

A while ago we came across a website on infrared remote controls which suggested a simple way to view IR signals using an Oscilloscope. The idea is to use a standard IR Led mounted into a BNC/RCA plug using a spare channel making an Oscilloscope infrared receiver. So we set about ordering the connectors, which arrived in the post today. Another way of looking at this device is as a ‘poor-mans’ IR receiver, but if you have an Oscilloscope to plug it into then maybe you are not so poor after all.

Since introducing support into AnalysIR for the USB IR Toy we haven’t played too much with setting the different infrared carrier frequencies. After reading some mixed experiences on the Dangerous Prototypes forum we decided to put it to the test. So to start off we implemented a feature in AnalysIR to set the carrier frequency and to default to 38kHz at start up. Next we checked the mechanism described on the DP website about configuring the carrier frequency and everything seemed to work out OK. Continue reading USB IR Toy – Infrared Carrier frequency review→

AnalysIR decodes over 75 of the most common base CIR protocols formats, including TVs, STBs, Air Conditioners & other variants/devices, and boasts a comprehensive range of features to help you as a Maker or Professional. This translates into many 10,000s of actual devices. It also analyzes 99.9%+ of all infrared remote control signals.

…BTW, I used AnalysIR for the first time a few minutes ago. I figured I’d need an hour or two to get it working, but I had it running in about two minutes! I simply read the section in the manual about IRToy, set my COM port, and that was it! Now, I have to learn what it can do. So far, I am impressed, and I think the $15 investment will save me time on my current project and others.

USB IR Toy user, MA USA

I think you are the only company in the world that sell equipment like this.

AnalysIR User, Israel

Thanks for very nice sw & hw and your support 🙂I´m sure this gear will {also} help me in other future projects.

ESP8266 User, Sweden

Looking forward to trying out your software, it looks amazing.

AnalysIR User, Australia

Again, thanks a lot for your great support!

LearnIR User, Sweden

This is just what I’ve been looking for to help my home automation project. {Air Conditioner reverse engineering}

USB IR Toy User, New Zealand

Thanks, both for the great app. And the update….

AnalysIR User, Denmark

I received the package with the LearnIR and the single Vishay LED, many thanks for the quick service. Within an hour or so I had the LearnIR working, and controlling my AC unit!

Let me say that when i get this working will be the most useful software that i put my hands on this year. This is a awesome tool. I will send this to my colleagues that work with ….., i am pretty sure that the guys will it love too.

Arduino User, Brazil

I just wanted to say that AnalysIR rules as well as it’s documentation and the Arduino-firmware! A very nice piece of high quality engineering! Keep up the good work!! 🙂

Arduino User, Sweden

Just been looking at my first signal capture – Awesome

LaserTag User, Ireland

I love the A.IR Shield {Nano} form factor.

A.IR Shield Nano User, FL - USA

Just to say that i am very happy with the program. I Can decode a Toshiba aircon and transmit via arduino.

Arduino User, Denmark

….. now i can send commands to my air conditioner from Arduino , thanks for your support and good software

IRLib User, Israel

You guys are amazing!!Thank you!

AnalysIR User, GA USA

Truly a wonderful tool! I can’t imagine going back to how I did this before. If only I had this back when I did home automation all the time. Geez what a cluster that was…Without your excellent tool I couldn’t have done {my AC} project;Keep up the GREAT work!later – L.

USB IR Toy User, KY USA

Thanks to your outstanding support, I’m already happy with my decision to go with AnalysIR and I haven’t even started the project! I’m looking forward to receiving the Photon shield in the mail so I can get going.

Particle Photon User, Canada

….and thanks for devoloping this great software! It is very easy and straight forward to use it !

NodeMCU/WemOS user, Turkey

Just 2 lines to let you know I am now sending IR codes to my AC from JeeNode with IRremote and everything is working fine. IR codes are stored in flash with PROGMEM and copied to a buffer in RAM each time before calling irSend(). Thanks again for your help.

Thank you for the personal response. I love how unique and powerful your software is.

USB IR Toy User, WA USA

Thanks again you guys rock customer service.

AnalysIR User, CT USA

This thing is AWESOME in every way: Creative, inspiring,simple, elegant…. Really, I mean that — it is really awesome — how you came up with it would have been fun to watch…

Silver Bullet User, USA

I feel your software is a great tool for any IR-based project.

USB IR Toy User, Kenya

Once again, thanks for your assistance recently and also for AnalysIR, a really brilliant piece of software that has really helped me with my project{Air Conditioner}. The learner/sensor kit has also helped a great deal.

Arduino User, UK

Just to say that i am very happy with the program. I Can decode a Toshiba aircon and transmit via arduino.

Arduino User, Denmark

The software it looks fantastic ! ! !WELL DONE !!!!

Aduino User, Greece

I love AnalysIR and it helped me to solve an issue with a defunct firmware on a home automation controller.

USB IR Toy User, Tx USA

Excellent support, by the way- very impressed. I hope our customer support is as good!

Tech Company, UK

Wow. You guys have great customer service! It’s a rare thing these days. Thanks.

USB IR Toy User, NY USA

First of all. Thanks for your amazing support!

Arduino & VirtualBox user, Norway

Adding the networking capability to AnalysIR is great for me.

IR Professional - CO, USA

Hi, I want to thank you now I can record data IR from my sharp Inverter Air conditioner remote….

Arduino User, Indonesia

I have downloaded AnalysIR and used it. There is one word I can say about it – AWESOME!!! It took me 10 minutes to decode required parts of an AC protocol.I highly recommend it.

Arduino User

I am writing to let you know that I just used AnalysIR to decode one of my Aircon and I was able to get workable on/off codes in just one try (and that too in 5 minutes). AnalysIR is superb and a huge time saver, I wish I had purchased it weeks earlier instead of trying to decode myself. Amazed and delighted by your product.

IoT User, Singapore

Thanks for making such awesome tool to decode IR Signals.

RPI/LIRC User, India

{re: Silver Bullet IR Receiver} And I must (again) state: The bullet is just a beautiful design. J

Oscilloscope User, WA - USA

Now i can figure out the correct {AC signal} checksum. (SUM, ignore 1 bytes @ end.) Finally i found it! Thanks for your great software.

AnalysIR User, Hungary

I have to admit, I’m very impressed with the Hardware/Software and the support!!! (early adopter for ’embedded’ LearnIR)

LearnIR User, Toronto Canada

I received the package with the LearnIR and the single Vishay LED, many thanks for the quick service. Within an hour or so I had the LearnIR working, and controlling my AC unit!

AnalysIR Coupon & New Products

Use coupon code 10offanalysir during checkout to get 10% off purchases of AnalysIR software (Maker & Pro Editions only), for a limited time only. Also check out our newly released MakeIR modules & shieldsvia our webshop.